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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA 

Department of Free Schools 
1912 



HIGH SCHOOL BULLETIN NO. 8 



PART I— Some Arguments For More High Schools in 
West Virginia 

PART II.— Laws Relating to the EstabUshing and Main- 
taining of High Schools 



— BY— 

L. L. FRIEND 

State Supervisor of High Schools 



M. P. SHAWKEY 

State Superintendent of Schools. 

Collected set. 



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TinOK PVBLISEINa CO., OHASLESTOK. 












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i- High School Bulletin No. 8. 



PART I. 



SOME ARGUMENTS FOR MORE HIGH SCHOOLS IN 
WEST VIRGINIA 



The Picture and What It Represents. 

Before beginning to read this bulletin take a good look at the pic- 
ure between pages eight and nine. The building shown in this pic- 
ture is being erected for the new district graded and high school at 
Academy in Little Levels district, Pocahontas county. The people of 
thip district are proud of their new building ; and they have reason to 
be, for it is the outward embodiment of a splendid advance movement 
going on in the district. The people of Little Levels district have 
caught the spirit of educational progress manifested here and there 
in other sections of West Virginia and in other states, and are giving 
it expression in a definite movement for better schools. 

Are you interested in knowing how the people of Little Levels 
district secured this building? The information is easily given. 
They marched up to the polls at a special election held in April, 
1911, and by their votes authorized an extra tax levy to erect it. 

Every boy and girl in Little Levels district who has completed the 
course of study in the "common" schools is entitled to attend the 
high school to be conducted in this building ,free of cost. The 
courses of study offered in the high school are to be just as good as 
those offered in town and city high schools ; though they are in some 
ways to be different from them. They will aim to provide instruction 
that will be of practical benefit to boys and girls who are to live in 
the country, along with the more important of the usual high school 
subjects. 

Other Districts Also. 

Little Levels district is of course not the only district in the state 
that is striving towards better things in education. This district is 
mentioned here because it is a good example of the best that is being 



done in the state. Many other districts have estabhshed district 
graded and high schools and a number of these are erecting new 
buildings. The cost of these new buildings riinges from $4,000 to 
$50,000. In some of the town and city high schools the cost of new 
buildings runs as high as $150,000. 

Glance down the following list of high schools established within 
the past few years and see what other sections of the state are doing. 

St. Albans High School, (Independent district). A new 
building is planned for this school. 

Glade District High School, Cowen, Webster county. 
An addition to the present building is being erected for this 
school. 

Cross Creek District High School, Follansbee, Brooke 
county. New building cost $10,000. 

Union District High School, Union, Monroe County. 

Fairfax District High School, Thomas, Tucker county 
New building cost $20,000. 

Burnsville High school, (Independent district), Burns- 
ville, Braxton county. Recent addition to building cost 
$1,600. 

Brown's Creek District High School, Welch, McDowell 
county. Site for new building purchased. 

Spencer High School (Independent district) Spencer 
Roane county. Building purchased this year. Cost $16,000. 

Morgan District High School, Sabraton, Monongalia 
county. New building cost $5,000. 

Fairmont District High School, Barracksville, Marion. 
County. New building cost $10,000. 

Grant District High School, Cairo, Ritchie County. Lot 
purchased. Bond issue of $30,000 authorized for erection 
of new building. 

Black Fork District High School, Hambleton, Tucker 
County. 

Center District High School, Pineville, Wyoming County. 
New building cost $8,000. 
Beverly District High School, Beverly, Randolph 

Count\. 

Reno District High School, Rowlesburg, Preston county. 
New building cost $17,600. 

Cabin Creek District High School, East Bank, Kanawha 
county. Site for new building purchased. 



Alderson High School (Independent district) Alderson, 
Monroe county. 

Lyon District High School, Newburg, Preston county. 

Paw Paw District High School, Rivesville, Marion county. 

Mountain Cove District High School, Ansted, Fayette 
county. New building being erected, cost $5,000. 

Graham District High School, New leaven. Mason 
county. 

Hardee District High School, Eugene, Mingo county. 
New building cost $4,000. 

Union District High School, Sherrard, Marshall county. 
New building cost $10,000. 

Union District High School, West Milford, Harrison 
county. 

Scott District High School, Danville, Boone county. 

Logan District High School, Logan, Logan county. 

Paw Paw District High School, Amos, Marion county. 

Oceana District High School, Oceana, Wyoming county. 
New building cost $8,000. 

Fork Lick District High School, Webster Springs, Webster 
county. Site for new building purchased. 

Clay District High School, Littleton, Wetzel county. 

Big Sandy District High School, Clendenin, Kanawha 
county. New building being erected. Cost $25,000. 

Valley District High School, Masontown, Preston 
county. 

Grant District High School, Milton, Cabell county. 

East River District High School, Princeton, Mercer 
county. Bond issue of $50,000 authorized for erection and 
equipment of new building. 

Red Sulphur District High School, Peterstown, Monroe 
county. New building to be erected. Cost, $6,000. Funds 
raised by extra levy and private subscription. 

Harpers Ferry District High School, Harpers Ferry, Jeffer- 
son county. Site purchased for new building. Building 
will cost about $20,000. 

Clay County High School, Clay Court House. New 
building being erected. Cost, $25,000. to $30,000. 

Nicholas County High School, Summersville. New 
building provided for. Cost, $25,000. to $30,000. 



More High Schools Needed. 

There are yet many districts without high schools in West Virginia 
that are able to establish and maintain them. There are states 
around us that boast of having high schools within convenient reach 
of all their boys and girls of high school age. Why should we remain 
behind these states in a matter of so great importance as public 
education. 

Why? 

It would require many pages like this to give all of the reasons 
why there should be a good high school within convenient reach of 
every boy and girl of high school age in West Virginia. The cause is 
worth the space, however, and a number of reasons will be given 
even though it becomes necessary to make this bulletin a little 
longer than was originally intended. 

First. Country boys and girls should have as good opportunities 
as those who live in town. The fact that a boy lives in town does not 
necessarily make him more capable or more deserving, nor does it 
make him worth more to his state, than the boy who lives in the 
country. Give the country boy an equal chance with the boy who 
lives in town and he will at least equal him in achievement. An equal 
chance, however, means, among other things, equal school advan- 
tages. These the country boy does not now have in many sections 
of West Virginia. 

Second. The common elementary school does not go far enough. 
It finishes with the boy and turns him out just at the beginning of 
the time when the school's best lessons can be taught. The four or 
five years that follow the elementary school period are the most crit- 
ical and the most important in the boy's whole life. In these years are 
formed the habits, the ambitions, and the ideals that are hkely to 
last through future years. To furnish the guidance and instruction 
that are needed in this important period is the special mission of 
the high school. 

Third. The high school helps many-a boy to discover himself; 
for the high school years are more than all others the years of self- 
discovery. In the high school the boy is introduced to new subjects 
some of which are almost certain to appeal srtongly to his special 
interests and lead in the direction of his future calling. In some there 
results an ambition to go to college for the further study of subjects 
in which their interest has been aroused. Others who do not find it 
possible or desirable to go to college pass from the high school to the 
pursuit of some definite work, their aptitude for which the high school 



has been the means of revealing. Both classes are helped to find 
themselves and to prepare in a measure for their life work. From this 
service that the high school has rendered larger possibilities of use- 
fulness result and greater happiness and contentment become possible. 

Fourth. To the average boy the training that the high school 
affords brings greater earning power. This is not an assertion made 
at random but a fact established by investigation. 

Take the farmer for example. Many people believe that the 
ability to read, write and perform simple operations in numbers is 
sufficient education to meet the farmers needs. It is true that with 
no more than this equipment in the way of school training, meagre 
as it is, a farmer under favorable conditions may make a living. 
But more education will enable him to make a better living and to 
get more happiness out of life while he is doing it. The following 
■investigation is interesting because of what it shows as to the value 
of education to the farmer. 

Some time ago a group of students in Cornell University conducted 
an investigation among a thousand farmers in Thompkins county, 
New York, to gain information concerning the value of school train- 
ing to the farmer. When complete information was obtained these 
one thousand farmers were divided into three classes, — those who 
had received only an elementary school education; those who had 
received as much as a high school education; and those who had 
received more than a high school education. The average annual 
income of each class was found to be as follows: 

Farmers having only an elementary school education. _$318 

Farmers having a high school education 622 

Farmers having more than a high school education 847 

It is seen that the average income of farmers in this group of one 
thousand, who had received as much as a high school education, 
was almost twice that of those who had received only an elementary 
school education. What is true among farmers is true among men in 
other vocations: high school training has a money value. 

Fifth. A good high school in the home community gives the poor 
boy a chance. Parents who are well-to-do can send their children 
away from home to receive high school training if there is not a 
high school in the home community. Most parents are not able to 
do this, however, and school training for their children must end 
when they leave the elementary school. The new high schools 
already established in West Virginia have awakened new ambitions 
in numbers of poor boys and girls who had not thought of ever having 
an opportunity to go farther with their education. 



8 

Sixth. But even for young people whose parents are able to send 
them away from home to a school of high school grade, it is much 
better if their school training can be obtained at home. The proper 
training of boys and girls of high school age demands not only careful 
parental oversight, but it demands close cooperation between parents 
and teachers as well. Such oversight and cooperation are not possible 
when the high school youth must go to a distant school. 

The Community too is Benefited. 

In addition to the opportunities that a good high school brings to 
the young people of a community there are certain advantages re- 
sulting from it that are experienced by the community as a whole. 

First. A good high school elevates the tone of a community. 
This is particularly true in a rural community. The school with its 
activities arouses increased interest in education and becomes a 
factor in the social life of the community. It becomes an agency 
for the broadening of people's views and brings into rural homes 
books, music and pictures and many other things that tend to en- 
rich rural life and relieve if of the austerity and plaimiess that have 
driven many a boy and girl to town to seek a life of richer experiences. 

Second. A good high school in the rural district causes improve- 
ment in the elementary schools around it. Better grading of the 
elementary schools results because their work must articulate pro- 
perly with that of the high school. Better preparation of the teachers 
in the elementary schools comes about also, as the graduates of the 
high school go out through the district to engage in teaching. And 
best and most important of all a motive is furnished the boys and 
girls in the elementary schools to remain in school and complete 
the work of the grades. The ambition to enter the high school will 
induce many-a boy and girl to remain in school who would other- 
wise because of lack of motive and ambition, drop out at the end 
of the compulsory attendance period. 

Third. A high school has a money value to the community. A 
community in which there is a good high school, good elementary 
schools, and good social and moral cnviromnent is a desirable 
community in which to live. Men with famiUes will move to such a 
community and invest their money there. They will pay better 
prices for property in such a community than they ^vill pay elsewhere. 
A good high school increases the value of homes and farms to the 
remotest bounds of its territory. 



9 

Information Concerning High School Laws. 

If you do not have a high school in your district and if you believe 
that one should be established, you will doubtless be interested in 
acquainting yourself with the provisions of law relating to the es- 
tablishing and maintaining of high schools. For your information, 
therefore, a digest of the law of West Virginia relating to high schools 
is given in Part II of this bulletin. 




10 



PART II. 

LAWS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHING AND MAIN- 
TAINING OF HIGH SCHOOLS. 



There are certain legal requirements that must be complied with 
before a high school can be established and maintained in a magis- 
terial or independent district. These are brought together here in 
condensed form for the ready information of boards of education 
and others interested in the creation and maintenance of high schools. 
Persons interested should read carefully all of each section of the 
law referred to in the paragraphs that follow. 

How High Schools May be Established. 

There are two provisions of law relating to the establishing of 
district high schools. These are found in sections twenty-eight 
and thirty of the School Law. 

(1) By Action of Boards of Education. 

Section twenty-eight provides that in any district containing a 
town or village having a graded school of four or more rooms in the 
same building, the board of education may establish a high school 
"which shall be open to all pupils of sufficient attainment in the 
maisterial district in which the school is located." The creation of a 
high school under this section does not require a vote of the people of 
the district. No additional levy may be laid, however, for the sup 
port of a high school established under this section, as section twen- 
ty-ieght further provides that the levy necessary to support a high 
school so established and all other schools in the district, shall not 
exceed twenty-five cents on the one hundred dollars valuation of 
property for the teacher's fund and fifteen cents on the one hun- 
dred dollars valuation of property for the building fund. 

(2) By Vote of the People. 

Section thirty is the provision of law under which district high 
schools are usually established. Under this section the question of 
establishing a district high school must be submitted to a vote of 
the people of the district. As the law now stands a special election 



11 

on this question may be held at any time. That part of section 
thirty referring to the estabhshing of district high schools is given 
below. 

"Sec. 30. (a) If the board of education of any 
district deem it expedient to establish a high school 
in such district they shall submit the question to the 
voters of the district at a general or special election 
in the manner following, that is to say: The board 
shall prepare and sign a notice setting forth the kind 
of school proposed; the place where it is to be located; 
the estimated expense of establishing the same, including 
cost of site, building, furniture, books and apparatus 
and the estimated annual expense of supporting the 
school after it is in operation, with such other infor- 
mation concerning it as they may deem proper; and 
stating that the question of authorizing the establish- 
ment of such high school shall be submitted to the 
voters of the district at the election specified in the 
notice which they shall cause to be posted for four 
weeks before the election in at least three of the most 
public places in the district. 

"The ballots used in voting on the question shall 
have written or printed thereon the words "For district 
high school," and "Against district high school." If 
it appear by the result of said election that not less 
than three-fifths of the voters who voted on the ques- 
tion are in favor of authorizing the establishment of 
said school the board of education shall then proceed 
to obtain the site, provide proper buildings, fixtures 
and improvements, procure necessary furniture, books 
and apparatus and necessary teachers therefor. 

Levies for the Support of District High Schools. 

Regular District School Levies. 

Funds raised from the regular levies of twenty-five cents for teachers 
and twelve and one half cents for building purposes may be used for 
the support of high schools in districts where these levies will produce 
more than sufficient funds for the proper support of the elementary 
schools of the district. 

Special High School Levies. 
There are two provisions in division "C", section twenty-one of 



12 



the school law, relating to the laying of extra levies for high school 
purposes. The first of these is as follows: 

"Provided, however, that in any district which con- 
tains an encorporated city or town where a graded 
or high school is maintained, which is continued for 
a longer period than six months, the board of educa- 
tion shall have authority to lay a levy in addition to 
the levies above specified sufficient for all purposes to 
conduct the schools of said city or town for the time 
fixed." 

The second provision is as follows: 

"Provided second, that if such board of education 
m a city or independent school district of less than ten 
thousand population maintains a high school in such dis- 
trict or maintains a high school in connection with one 
or more other districts, the board may levy for the 
support of such high school in any one year not to 
exceed ten cents on each one hundred dollars of said 
valuation." 

The Erection of High School Buildings — How Provided For. 

There are three ways of providing funds for the erection of high 
school buildings. 

(1) Regular District Levy for Building Fund. 

Funds raised from the regular levy of twelve and a half cents for 
the district building fund may be used in the erection of high school 
buildings. 

{2) Extra Levy. 

Section twenty-two of the School Law provides for an additional 
levy not to exceed twenty cents on the one hundred dollars valuation 
of property when such extra levy has been authorized by a vote of 
the people of the district. All of this levy may be used for building 
purposes if the notice calling an election on the question so specifies. 

(5) Bond Issue. 

Section thirty-nine of the school law authorizes the issuing of bonds 
for the erection, repair or equipment of school buildings. A district 



13 

desiring to issue bonds must submit the question to a vote of the 
people of the district. Three-fifths af all the votes cast on the ques- 
tion must be in favor of the bond issue. The law provides, however, 
that the total bonded indebtedness of a district may not exceed two 
and one half per cent of the total valuation of taxable property in 
the district. Under the law as amended at the regular session of 
the Legislature of 1911, anj^ district or independent district may 
vote on the question of issuing bonds for school purposes at any 
general or special election. 

Special Elections. 

As required by section twenty-six of the School Law the Attorney 
General has prepared forms and instructions for the holding of all 
school elections. These forms and instructions must be followed in 
all cases. Copies of forms and instructions for holding high school 
elections may be obtained from the Attorney General or from the 
State Supervisor of High Schools. 

Before any special election a complete registration should be made 
of the voters of the territory in which the election is to be held. This 
registration should be made not less than fifteen days before the date 
set for an election. When the registration is completed the regis- 
tration books should be turned over to the Board of Education not 
later than ten days before the date of the election. 

Registrars for a special school election are appointed by the board 
of education of the district in which the election is to be held. The 
board also determines the number and location of polling places, 
appoints election officers and provides poll books and ballots for the 
election. 

Notice of an election on the question of establishing a district high 
school must be posted in three of the most public places in the dis- 
trict for at least three successive weeks before the election. Notices 
of an election on the question of laying an additional levy under the 
provisions of section twenty-two, and on the question of authorizing 
a bond issue under the provisions of section thirty-nine, must be 
given in accordance with the requirements of section twenty-three; 
that is, the order calling such election must be published in two 
newspapers of general circulation in the district and of opposite 
politics, at least once each week for two successive weeks before the 
election; and printed copies of this order must be posted at each 
place of voting at least ten days before the election. If there is only 
one newspaper of general circulation in the district, then the publi- 
cation must be made in this newspaper. 



14 

State Aid For Classified High Schools. 

Section thirty of the School Law, besides providing for the establish- 
ing of district high schools by vote, authorizes the classification of 
the high schools of the state into three classes,— first class, second 
class and third class. It also provides for the distribution of state 
aid to high schools that have complied with all requirements for 
classification. 

Other Sections of the Law Applying in Part or in Whole to 

High Schools. 

The last part of section 8 makes it the duty of boards of education 
to obtain a general warranty deed for all school sites. This should 
be done when land is donated to the board as well as when it is pur- 
chased. 

Section 13 provides that boards of education before purchasing 
school apparatus must secure the consent in writing of the County 
Superintendent. 

According to a provision in section 14, "no school house shall be 
constructed until the location and plan thereof have first been ap- 
proved by the county superintendent." The county superintendent 
must select location and plans in case of a disagreement on the part 
of the board of education. 

Section 18 provides for the erection of buildings jointly by two or 
more adjoining districts. This section enables any district that can 
not alone establish and maintain a district high school to unite with 
an adjoining district or districts, thus providing for both or all the 
districts so uniting the advantages of a high school and lessening the 
financial burden connected therewith to each district. 

Section 19 requires that "Boards of education shall in all cases 
require persons entering into contract for the building or repairing 
of school houses, where the contract price exceeds fifty dollars, to 
execute bond with approved security in double the amount of the 
contract price." 

Section 23 prescribes the manner in which special elections for 
school purposes shall be held. Directions are given for the publi- 
cation of notices of such elections and for the preparation of ballots 
to be used in the same. 



15 

Section 26 makes it the duty of the Attorney General to prepare 
forms and instructions for the holding of any elections authorized 
under the School Law. The forms and instructions prescribed by 
the Attorney General must be followed in all cases. 

Section 29 provides for the payment of such salaries to teachers 
in graded and high schools as existing conditions may warrant, 
without regard to the salaries fixed for the three grades of certifi- 
cates in the ungraded schools of the district. 

Section 31 authorizes the discontinuance of a district high school 
at the end of any year " upon the petition in writing of at least seventy- 
five per cent of the taxpayers of the district." 

Section 68 empowers boards of education upon the petition in 
writing of seventy-five per cent of the voters of the sub-districts 
affected, to consolidate the schools of two or more sub-districts and 
to provide, if practicable, for the transportation of pupils. This 
is a very important provision since the consolidation of two or more 
schools and the formation of a graded school will, in many cases, 
be the first step advisable in the creation of a high school. 




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